Alliant Energy and transmission line company ITC Midwest say power has been restored to more than half of their customers who were impacted by Monday's storm

The latest statement from Alliant Energy and the transmission line company which works with Alliant Energy, ITC Midwest, says the two companies are making progress in restoring power in Cedar Rapids and the rest of the area damaged by Monday's storm.

ITC Midwest has been able to return to service a critical line that feeds Alliant Energy's downtown industrial substation in Cedar Rapids, allowing Alliant Energy to restore electric services to the city's hospitals, police and fire stations, municipal government offices, businesses and homes in the city's central area.

"This was by far the most extensive storm damage we have seen since ITC Midwest began operating the transmission system at the end of 2007," said ITC Midwest President Dusky Terry.  "The storm was the equivalent of a 40-mile wide tornado that rolled over 100 miles of the state. To address the damage, we have deployed significant resources and equipment to return the transmission system to service. We'll continue partnering with Alliant Energy and other local utilities to bring power back to Iowans."

Said Alliant Energy Senior Vice President Terry Kouba, "Crews are working as quickly and as safely as possible in order to fully restore all services."